Friday: Climate Change

is linked to more frequent and
extreme natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding and drought;

is expected
to negatively impact food security, water and air quality; and

exacerbates the
risks of vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Like so
many health threats, climate change is also expected to disproportionately
impact already-vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, young children,
families living in poverty and people with chronic diseases. On a more global scale, researchers warn that climate change will likely result in forced migration and civil conflict.

For action.

Stand up for science! Despite what some American leaders are saying, the science is clear: climate change is real, it's happening and human activities are a main cause. Call for adequate funding to support public health workers in monitoring, preparing for and responding to the health effects of climate change. Support policies that help mitigate and prevent worsening climate change, such as rules that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and partnerships that reduce people's reliance on cars. Such actions also can have positive co-benefits for health, such as improving air quality and encouraging active commuting. Make sure equity is a centerpiece of climate and health actions because climate impacts are not evenly distributed across communities and will likely worsen existing inequities. APHA’s Climate Change, Health, and Equity: A Guide for Local Health Departments is designed to help local public health departments integrate climate change and health equity into practice.

For health.

Health departments across the country are already busy preparing for the impacts of climate change, many of them participating in CDC's Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative and embracing CDC's five-step Building Resilience Against Climate Effects, or BRACE, framework. Health departments using the BRACE framework are reporting a variety of success stories, such as launching new vulnerability assessments and working across sectors to reduce emissions. Addressing climate change also comes with new opportunities
to save lives and improve health. For example, a 2018 brief from APHA and The
Lancet (PDF) reports climate change is encouraging sectors and communities to begin
the shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewable, clean energies. On the
policy side — a key component of tackling climate change — research shows that
smart policy can have big effects. For instance, federal officials estimate that
reducing power plant emissions could prevent thousands of premature deaths and provide billions of dollars in public health benefits.

APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that influences federal policy, has a 145-year perspective and brings together members from all fields of public health. Learn more!